worth putting another reader on kobo glo hd?

[kyrusdemnati]

currently have stock but from reading threads changing readers allow furhter customisation
how does this affect official updates from kobo?
also are there easier ways to access certain apps i.e. web browser + calibre wireless.. so i could just download the books wirleessley rather connecting via usb...

thanks

[frostschutz]

It depends on your tastes. I don't use the alternative readers, I'm happy enough with the stock reading functionality [well, after doing some minor modifications, particularly AutoShelf for navigating books in a folderesque fashion]. If you don't like the stock reader of course the koreader,coolreader alternatives might be a huge bonus for you.

What's your issue with the web browser? You have to select it once via settings->beta features but then it's a tile on the main screen (as long as you use it from time to time). Also the browser allows setting a custom start page, so if you go to your local calibre server once and set it as start page you should get it directly next time you start the browser.

Webbrowser is quite complicated, I don't think an alternative exists.

As for me, I upload books wirelessly (via my WebPortal/FileManager addon) but it still needs an USB plug for the Kobo stock firmware to actually detect the uploaded books...

[Ken Maltby]

The addon programs have no impact on the Kobo firmware updates. The firmware updates can overwrite the launcher program (The Kobo Start Menu (KSM8), Advboot, or the File Monitor (fmon)), hooks into the startup code. You can avoid that in the case of KSM8. Reinstalling the other launchers after a firmware update should also work. The alternative reading programs themselves are run in their own code space and are not likely to be effected by Firmware changes.

Both KOReader and Coolreader have OPDS support, so they can easily access calibre's wireless content server. KOReader also can connect to calibre as a wireless device.

Luck;
Ken

[tayseidel]

I'm a fairly new Kobo user, coming from the Sony PRS line of ereaders.

So, from my perspective as a new user, installing an alternative reader like Koreader is absolutely worth it. Koreader allows me to fine tune the reading experience in ways that the stock reader cannot. I have installed the following:

• KSM 8
• Koreader (Latest stable, I believe 2015.5)
• Coolreader (Latest stable)

So far, I have done the following:

KSM 8:

• Customized the power down screen
• Edited ksmAutoselectafter=20 to ksmAutoselectafter=0 for ksmAutoselectoption=start_koreader. This way, upon powerup, KSM is bypassed and I'm booted directly into koreader, which is set to open the last open book.

Koreader:

• Added a light toggle button / Power down button to the top menu bar
• Disabled the bookcover screensaver on suspend, and customized the suspend message to show DEVICE STATUS: SUSPENDED instead of "suspended"
• Increased minibar padding from 14 to 20, increased minibar height from 7 to 14, and increased minibar font size to 16.

The modifications I made to the minibar make it more visible and easier to read. The progress bar in particular, is more visual because it is bigger by virtue of the height increase.

IMO, one of the biggest benefits to running an alternate reader like koreader is the ability to more closely duplicate the physical reading experience. The progress bar is an excellent visual indicator of how far you are in a book, similar to picking up a physical book and then going to where the bookmark is. Instantly, you get a feel of where you are in the book from looking at the progress bar, similar to picking a book up and seeing where the bookmark is. With the stock reader, you don't really get a feel of where you are in the book, other than looking at 253/454 on the bottom footer. I much prefer having the visual progress bar in Koreader, along with the page number (ex. 253/454), pages left in a chapter, and the clock. All of those, you cannot get with the stock reader.

Cold booting to KSM is also quicker than booting into Nickel. I like how Nickel manages collections though. but, I'm starting to adapt to the file manager approach of Koreader's file manager.

Like others have said, installing KSM 08 + Koreader/Coolreader has no impact on the stock software. In fact, KSM 08 has a fail safe built into it by booting every other boot up in case it has problems. This way, Nickel boots on every other boot that KSM doesn't boot. This behavior can be changed once KSM looks like it is working as it should.

For future firmware updates, I will just use the partial update through KSM's handle update feature.

I've also gotten Calibre Wireless Connection to work, although I'm not a big fan of how it pushes books onto the Kobo without creating subfolders, like it does through the USB connection, so I'll stick with transferring via USB. I have also connected to the OPDS catalog from my calibre library on the computer via wireless, but again, I don't like the way it downloads books without first creating a folder based on the author's name. For now, I'll stick with transferring via USB, but these two ways of connecting through wireless indeed work.

[kyrusdemnati]

cool i may do, seems a bit complicated with multiple programmes running, but i will give it a go... will find the diy thread

[Ken Maltby]

There is now a KOReader Forum here on MR. The programs run "one at a time", for the most part, just like all the stock programs do.

Luck;
Ken

[Alan_S]

Originally Posted by kyrusdemnati

seems a bit complicated with multiple programmes running, but i will give it a go

Actually, reading about it makes it look more complicated than it actually is once you start to use it.

Installing KSM and after that koreader and/or CoolReader is really simple.

For me, I stopped using nickel altogether, as I don't need it. Koreader offers all I need and CoolReader package comes with some interesting additional software (games to have fun when you're not in the mood for reading).

[kyrusdemnati]

ive installed something but don't know how to use it really

i assumed it was koreader
but still end up witht he stock the reader

there are different options but don't know how to make sense of it...


http://s24.postimg.org/q97ngdnpx/IMG_1598.jpg

[Alan_S]

You installed KSM (not sure which version, probably 8).

To use it just touch the screen where it says "start koreader" for starting koreader, or if you want to go for original reader, use "start nickel".

Of course, you can do much more with KSM, but for the beginning it's enough.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by kyrusdemnati

ive installed something but don't know how to use it really

i assumed it was koreader
but still end up witht he stock the reader

there are different options but don't know how to make sense of it...


http://s24.postimg.org/q97ngdnpx/IMG_1598.jpg

This thread should get you started. For the KOReader download. For the Wiki
.

Luck;
Ken